Cabinets are some of the most ubiquitous parts of our homes. They’re found in our kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and many more. They range from small free-standing dressers or fully kitted out custom built-ins. Custom cabinets come in all sorts of materials such as wood, laminates, and even stainless steel. However even as technology advances and styles change, wood remains as a tried-and-true material for most of our custom cabinetry needs.

When it comes to balancing beauty and functionality in cabinetry, nothing comes close to the array of options offered by different species of wood.  When a friend or family member brings up the topic of cabinets, one can’t help but picture the natural allure of wood grain of stained cabinetry or the sleek and crisp finish of painted wood cabinets. Each and every different species of wood comes with their own distinct characteristics.

Today, we’ll dive into the most popular types of wood for custom cabinets. Broadly speaking, they fall into two general categories: wood best for staining and wood best for painting. We will go over the most popular types for each and what they each bring to the table.

For many years, contemporary interiors have produced sleek white and black interiors. There’s been so much focus on clean lines. But sometimes, this kind of look just feels too clean. Taken to the extreme, it can even feel stoic, sterile, and unwelcoming.

That’s why trends are gradually moving back towards more natural-looking styles. You may have seen the rise of Scandinavian and Japandi inspired homes online and magazines. Mid-century modern has also been having a moment of resurgence of late. And in these styles, the allure of wood is at the forefront.

Today, we’ll cover specifically the lighter side of wood –natural wood finishes. Wood species like white oak, pine, and cedar are but some that fall under this category.